Cutting case for fans.. (n00b inside)

M

MAXX RS4

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 6, 2004
Messages
201
On the rear and the front of the case where the spots for fans are to be mounted, there is the swiss cheese grille deal going on.. Should the grill be dremeled out so it's a big open hole? I mean, I can barely feel the air moving through..

I'm using a x-dreamer II.
 
Yes. Afterwards, you can get cheap wire fan grilles from sites like www.svc.com that allow lots of airflow while also protecting your fingers.
 
Who needs fingers?

Thanks.

EDIT:

How do you suggest I cut this stuff? Do I have to remove all the hardware first or should it be okay? Is there any tricks to this?
 
It would be wise to remove your hardware just to make sure none of the metal shard get stuck and fry components, or if while you are cutting, you cut your hardware that woukd suck.

But you could do it with your hardware in, just make sure you cover your hardware with some cloth or something to keep the metal shards/particles off your parts.

To cut them off you could dremel them off, use a jigsaw. To do a good job, just take your time, plan what you do, and take your time(yeah I said it twice). Good luck.
 
My advice on dremeling. I think I have some good advice since I cut a huge window into the side of my case today. I took my time and it looks sweet. Pics when I finish.

1) Never make your first cut the hole you want to end with. I find it easiest to get a reinforced cutting wheel (fiberglass reinforced), and go along just inside the line you want to cut.

2) Second time, go over the line and with the cutting wheel knock off the little extras here and there until you have the shape you want. Be careful not to cut too much. Basically the idea here is that after you have removed the fan grill, trimming it becomes 100x easier.

3) Take a grinding wheel or cone thingy to smooth out your cut. Basically make sure it's completely straight (or circular, whatever) and try to get rid of most of the metal burrs.

4) Finish it off with something I think it's called epoxy paper. It's like sandpaper but for metals, I suppose. I don't know what it was but I used it and it gave me a pretty good finish.
 
DudeItsMe said:
My advice on dremeling. I think I have some good advice since I cut a huge window into the side of my case today. I took my time and it looks sweet. Pics when I finish.

1) Never make your first cut the hole you want to end with. I find it easiest to get a reinforced cutting wheel (fiberglass reinforced), and go along just inside the line you want to cut.

2) Second time, go over the line and with the cutting wheel knock off the little extras here and there until you have the shape you want. Be careful not to cut too much. Basically the idea here is that after you have removed the fan grill, trimming it becomes 100x easier.

3) Take a grinding wheel or cone thingy to smooth out your cut. Basically make sure it's completely straight (or circular, whatever) and try to get rid of most of the metal burrs.

4) Finish it off with something I think it's called epoxy paper. It's like sandpaper but for metals, I suppose. I don't know what it was but I used it and it gave me a pretty good finish.
Click to expand...

I pretty much did exactly what you said.. I have tons of experience with dremels (i'm an RCer so it's like a second nature to me).. It came out worse than expected, but I didn't really take my time since it's like 3 am.. plus I'll be cutting more out when I get my 120mm fan and then I'll make it all pretty..
 
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